Charm City [IC] Options

[pbangarth]

Yes, thoroughness takes time, Bongo acknowledges to himself. "Nope," Bongo replies. "I didn't see anything like that. I didn't go poking inside walls, though. Let me know if you find anything interesting. I'd like to enhance my ability to find things, and anything you can point out will add to my checklist in future."

Willie considers options presented to him and others that come to mind. He resists mightily his old practice of enumerating points to himself by counting fingers. "Keeping distance is a good idea, but I don't want anything to get in the way of speed and manoeuvrability. This machine is mostly for business, not for show. I don't wanna get caught on a spike as I jump on the machine to get away from little people with big guns. Or," he chuckles, " when I do a little drive-by bullet spray."

[Thanee]

When Cole checks in to see if everything was going as planned, Selina replies: << Yeah, I got everything from Brewster. There's even a safehouse prepared, already. Havn't been there, yet. Just got my bike and the rest of my stuff out of the harbor, and will make my way over there now. The bigger luggage is already at the house, apparantly. Hopefully. But I will also need my own place, obviously. How's that going? Once you update Kimberly's credentials, she needs an address here. Something like my old place back in Downtown. I guess you know that, but that word has a whole different meaning here. Best sent me a few choices, you know how picky I can be sometimes. And not one of those caves. It needs to be perfect, but I know you will deliver. No worries here. Thanks again and talk soon. >>

With that done, the elf jumps on her bike and sets off towards the provided address of the townhouse.

The area isn't great, obviously, but she has seen worse. Slowly pulling up to the townhouse, her white Mirage comes to a stop in front of the building. She takes off the helmet, revealing her pretty face and shoulder-long, blonde hair. Hanging the helmet on one of the bike's handles for now, she steps closer to the door to enter the code she received from Brewster. Her slender body is tightly wrapped in a black bodysuit and will likely draw some attention, but she is used to that. The zoned-out punks littering the sidewalk towards the east definitely do not take much notice, though.

As the door opens, a black cat strolls around the corner and hops onto the bike to make herself comfortable on the still warm seat. The elf turns around for a moment, saying: "Keep an eye on it for a moment, will you? Thank you!" The cat purrs, obviously quite content with her place for the time being.

[pbangarth]

No way Bongo misses the arrival of someone who looks like Selina, and he pays close attention to her. He keeps an ear tuned to what Tubesnake is saying, but sings the first few lines of an oldie but goodie:

Uptown girl
She's been living in her uptown world
I bet she's never had a backstreet guy
I bet her momma never told her why

[Thanee]

"Uptown world? Not quite yet, but we're getting there..." The elf smiles. "Maybe they should hire you next door. That would definitely be a big improvement."

She inclines her head towards the west.

"For now, this here has to suffice. Hopefully, the place is clean. I suppose, we have a common friend named Brewster? You can call me Selina. Is there any designated place where I can leave my bike?"

Looking around, she spots a mid-sized suitcase, looking pleased. That part definitely worked out.

[pbangarth]

"Pleased to meet you Selina. I go by Bongo Slade and my friend here is Tubesnake. We're both here at the invitation of Brewster. Yeah," Bongo replies. "I'm going to have to do something about the quality of music coming out of there.

"There are some parking spots here and storage units in the garage assigned to us. Allegedly they are under protection of the local biker gang, the Homeboyz. My buddy, Quick Willie is also on the roster. He is in the garage playing with the Homeboyz now. Bikes and Willie go together."

[Koekepan]

Paul certainly sees Selina's arrival through his AR distractions, but rather than hassle the pretty lady who's even slightly taller than him, about fifty points hotter, and an elf to boot, he settles down for soykaf number three from his thermos and quietly sends up a flyspy to do a circuit of the place, checking out what the back of the property looks like, and what the lighting situation from above is like from all angles.

[Thanee]

Selina is genuinely surprised but quickly shows a big grin.

"Nice to meet you! ... Wait ... No way! Willie is here? Big ork... about this tall..." The small elf has some trouble to actually reach that height with her arm stretching out. "Likes it fast... I actually know him from Seattle. The world is so small sometimes..."

She nods towards the rigger, who seems to be occupied in VR from the looks of it.

"He seems busy. Do you guys have comms set up, already? And, yeah, Brewster mentioned those HomeBoyz. Are they cool? I should pull my bike into the garage, then. Even though, if this is their turf, nothing should happen to it, when it is parked out front, right? But you never know, the garage is probably better."

[Koekepan]

Paul clearly isn't completely lost, because when Selina indicates him he raises a hand to the brim of his cap in salute. However he quickly returns to the task at hand by holding up a hand on which his flyspy comes to land. With this, he gets back up and returns to the interior of the van to put it away. A good workman doesn't blame his tools; he takes care of them.

[sunnyside]

The Ork with the Grill thinks for a just a moment and says "Well, maybe what you need is some personalization with some flexibility. We can work up some custom cowlings and fairings to express your style around here, and if you feel the need to do something you'd rather not be known for, you could take them off for a little while. Clip them back on if you don't want to match the description ya know? He gives a broad smile. And then he leans in closer. "If you have the nuyen, and Rat Fink will vouch for you, there are some more boring but practical mods to software and plates we sometimes arrange. "

Rat Fink seems full of energy and bobs around the conversation muttering. Other gangers around the shop seem to be taking an interest in what Willie is going to do.

[OOC: Maybe most folks could get away somehow saying "no" in some slick way the gangers couldn't take it as a slight against them and their rides, but Willies logic analyzer has noticed situations with similar heuristics not going well for Uncouth Willie. It would take a roll. Variants on yes would eventually require a negotiation roll]

---------------------

Near the front of the house some of the gangers had noticed Selina. One slightly leaner Ork had started to walk over, but another elbowed them lightly and they stopped. It looks like maybe they have a brief conversation but soon are back to their game, if perhaps a bit more distracted than before.

[pbangarth]

Bongo nods enthusiastically as Selina describes Willie to a 'T'. "Yup, that's him. The lot of us haven't hooked up comms yet, but I do have a connection to Willie, from before. I'll let him know you are here. "

He messages Willie, <<Hey, Willie. Lady here by the name of Selina says she knows you from Seattle. Looks like she's working with us here in Baltimore. Come on back and say 'Hi'. >>

Willie pauses his conversation and listens as the message comes through. His big smile spreads right away. "Sorry boyz. Old Home Week with a pretty lady just came up back at our safehouse. I'll be back to talk over mods with you later." He hops back on his bike, rip-roars around and heads back to his doss.

Bongo cocks an ear. "Yeah, Willie's on his way. I haven't met the Homeboyz yet, but maybe Willie can fill us in on them. Willie and I have parked our vehicles out back in the garage. Brewster says they can be counted on to keep our gear safe, so we're going with that."

A roar approaches from up the street and Willie pulls up, doing a stoppie right by Tubesnake's vehicle. He jumps off the bike, runs right past Tubesnake and hugs Selina, a little too tight, a little too close, and a little too long since his last bath. But ... that's Willie.

"Selina! Girl, it's good to see ya. You're workin' with us? Awesome!" His tone changes down a gear. "How's Dawn? You still with her?"

This is not Willie being convivial. That's beyond him. He actually does care for the teenager for whom he and others risked their lives.

Is that a twinge of jealousy in the back of Bongo's consciousness?

[Thanee]

"Well, well, look who's the... oof!"

Selina struggles a little trying to push Willie away, not that he notices her feeble attempts.

Eventually, she gets free from his friendly hug and backs off a step.

"Okay, you really need a bath."

She wrinkles her nose a bit, but also manages a smile.

"Good to see you, though! As I told Bongo just a moment ago. The world is a small place sometimes. And, yeah, Dawn is doing better. Much better than... well, then. As of now, she is in Seattle still, but she will also come here, to Baltimore, when I have a proper place set up. Not..." she looks around. "... this."

[pbangarth]

"I dunno," Willie says, looking around. "Best part is Brewster is paying for this. Free always makes something look better. You should see some of the places I've lived in!"

Her comment about odour doesn't seem to faze him.

[Koekepan]

Paul can't help but notice Willie. He's a presence; a big, loud presence. However, this presence is not directed at him so it doesn't really interfere with his research. Instead, he mutters an aside to Bongo:

"Lotsa rot in some of the old timbers. I know, the supports around the building are all steel and concrete and stuff, but the old house wasn't gutted and rebuilt. That stuff doesn't last forever. All the humidity off the sea settles in, and eventually, some day, rot comes along. Rodent damage, too. By the odds, shoulda burned down a decade ago but the breakers probably tripped and saved it. I oughta get in there and sort that out. In fact, we'd probably get a better 'trix signal in there too if I did that."

[pbangarth]

"Sounds good. Make the place ours with a few secrets of our own, know what I mean?" Bongo calls over Willie. He noticed his new teammate's reticence to get chummy with the boisterous ork.

"Hey, Willie, this is Tubesnake, part of our team. He does drones and matrix stuff. Tubesnake, this is Quick Willie. The fastest shooter and driver I've ever seen. So, we've got me, the scout and front man, Willie the gunner, Tubesnake the tech guy, and Selina. " He looks over Selina, noticing the style and grace, and that wonderful little cat who seems to know how to sit on a motorbike. Ah, and 'trodes. Telling.

[ Spoiler ]

I'll do a little roll here which is probably the GM's purview, just to keep the conversation going. If I overstep, slap my wrist sunnyside.

Perception 7 + INT 5 = 12 dice, target 5: 3 hits Man, the 1s like me today! Nevertheless a workmanlike result.

"My Magic isn't into auras and things, but I would guess you are our magician, Selina. And an accomplished one if you have a Familiar. Cat shaman, maybe?"

Willie reaches a big hand out to shake Tubesnake's hand. It's the thing you do when meeting someone new, he has learned. "Pleased ta meetcha!"

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake gives Willie a relaxed smile and shakes hands. Well, he doesn't have Willie's grip strength, but he's not bad for a tradesman in the era of automated everything.

"Heya. Not much of a hacker, but I can fix most things if they're broken. Also kinda good at what I call automated exploration, which is why I advise that if you appreciate your privacy, I get some good old-fashioned bolts to install on doors in there. Otherwise it's all remote electronics."

[pbangarth]

Willie considers Tubesnake's comment. "Yeah. That makes sense. I'll do that." And ... it does make sense to Willie. Wow.

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake nods, and makes notes. "Gottit, yeah. Bolts. If they're not in stock, I can machine some up real easy, it's a lathe, a welder and a press away. If you want a vault door closure, that'll be a bigger job 'cause then I have to replace the whole frame and mill out the door. Or I could add in a restroom style lock that slides in a bolt and reads occupado on the outside. I could also mount a few cameras and get a rigging box for the whole house, maybe make it spider-ready. Ain't no drones or node central to the thing right now - hey, d'ya think Brewster would get mad if I remodeled the place? I could install acoustic and ballistic panels and foam inside the walls, and discreet pop-out gun mounts under the eaves and at tactically valuable corners. Lotsa options here, if we wanna get nuts. F'r example, get ultrasound passives on surveillance mounts, but then place ultrasound sources elsewhere. Even if some goon targets the ultrasound sources, they're not taking out the cameras."

[Thanee]

"Good guess," Selina replies with a wink.

"The cat listens to Fiona. She also speaks and is quite formidable, actually."

[pbangarth]

"Good to know," Bongo returns the wink. "Pleased to meet you, Fiona. "

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake looks up from his home renovation plans after a little while, and glances around. "I reckon our friend didn't give any specific instructions yet. Anybody know if we're supposed to head somewhere other than here? I sure could use a grill scrapings breakfast. If not, I can fry up a roadkill hash and soykaf."

[Thanee]

"Not to me, he didn't," Selina explains.

"Probably gives us some time to settle in. Maybe there is someone coming still? I'm sure, he will give us more information soon enough."

[Koekepan]

"Awright! Well, in that case, I guess I'll do my job. Home improvement time. I'll be here finishing my survey for a bit, but why don't you all figure out what you need and give me a job list to tackle? Bolts on doors is a good start, and I can also repair rot and start with pest exclusion. It all gets the day started."

[pbangarth]

"Alright. Bolts for the doors for sure." Bongo says. "If later you need an extra pair of hands, Tubesnake, I'm pretty good with carpenters' tools. Come on, Willie, let's check out our rooms for anything that needs repair or upgrade. When you two," he indicates Selina and Tubesnake, "have picked out your rooms, I can give them a once over as well. I'm good at seeing details and such."

the two of them head back to their rooms, and Bongo does a careful check of the rooms, looking for structural issues that might need some work.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception test for Bongo's room for anything that stands out as per Tubesnake's suggestions:

Perception 3+4 + INT 5 + vision enhancement 3 + Vision magnification (no bonus but can zoom in if necessary) = 15 dice: 6 hits

Willie's room: 15 dice: 9 hits

[sunnyside]

.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception test for Bongo's room for anything that stands out as per Tubesnake's suggestions:

Perception 3+4 + INT 5 + vision enhancement 3 + Vision magnification (no bonus but can zoom in if necessary) = 15 dice: 6 hits

Willie's room: 15 dice: 9 hits

Ooc sorry gor delay. It wasn't clear which room Willie was in. But for the painted roof hatch I don't think there's really anything to see.

Otherwise nothing really interesting in the upper rooms, except marks make it look like occupants might have been using some kind of security devices on their doors that involved a part bolted into the floor.

[Koekepan]

Paul eventually retrieves his drones, and starts to do the boring work of laying out the design of the building and its environs, combined with a schematic of airflow, water, electrical lines and states of (dis)repair. Into this he adds, in an automated fashion, a list of identifiable code violations. Hey, he might as well. He doesn't bogart the data; if Bongo or Willie or Selina want in on the secrets, he's happy to share it to them in AR.

"What I figure is, someone installed anti-invasion door bars and latches, but they got yanked later. Either that, or this useda be somebody's pet prison. Well, regardless, we can go through this. I can run fresh cable where the varmints chewed 'em up, that's easy."